Grizzlies and Spurs Face Off Again in Friday Night Rematch

The Memphis Grizzlies and San Antonio Spurs are running it back on Friday night, just two days after Memphis took the first game of their mini-series in dominant fashion. The Spurs will be looking for revenge, while the Grizzlies aim to make it two straight in San Antonio.

Grizzlies: Gaining Momentum

The Grizzlies are starting to find their rhythm. They’ve won two of their last three games, and Wednesday’s 129-115 victory showed their resilience. After trailing by 12 at halftime, Memphis flipped the script with a huge second half, outscoring the Spurs 78-52.

• Standout Players:
  • Ja Morant: Led the way with 21 points and 12 assists, showing why he’s one of the most dynamic players in the league.
  • Jaren Jackson Jr.: After a rough first half, he came alive in the fourth quarter, scoring 14 of his 19 points and figuring out how to work around Victor Wembanyama’s defense.
  • Santi Aldama: Made a huge impact off the bench with 20 points and 10 rebounds, helping Memphis’ reserves outscore San Antonio’s 57-37.
• What They’re Saying:
  Desmond Bane summed it up perfectly:
  “We knew what it would take to win a tough game in a place like San Antonio.”

Spurs: Fighting for Consistency

It’s been a rough stretch for San Antonio. They’ve dropped four of their last five games and are trying to figure out how to put together a complete performance. On Wednesday, they looked great in the first half but fell apart after the break.

• Bright Spots:
  • Stephon Castle: The rookie had a breakout game, scoring a season-high 26 points, with 22 coming in the second half.
  • Victor Wembanyama: Dominated early with 13 points, 12 rebounds, and eight blocks—all in the first half—but couldn’t maintain the same energy offensively after halftime.
  • Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson: Both put up solid numbers, scoring 21 and 17 points, respectively.
• What Went Wrong:
  Interim head coach Mitch Johnson didn’t mince words:
  “We just couldn’t sustain our first-half performance for 48 minutes.”

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What to Watch

1. Adjustments:
   Memphis did a great job adapting to Wembanyama’s defense in the second half on Wednesday. Can the Spurs make their own adjustments to stop Memphis this time?
2. Bench Battle:
   The Grizzlies’ reserves dominated on Wednesday. San Antonio needs more from their bench to keep things competitive.
3. Rivalry Energy:
   Devin Vassell said Wednesday’s game was full of trash talk and intensity, and he’s ready for more:
   “I’m excited to take the challenge again. They’re a good team, but I think we’ll have the answer this time.”

Why It Matters

• For Memphis: A win would give them a mini-series sweep and more momentum heading deeper into the season.
• For San Antonio: The Spurs need to regain some confidence before hitting the road and heading to Paris for a two-game set against the Pacers.

Bottom Line

The Grizzlies are riding high after a big win, while the Spurs are eager to prove they can compete for the full 48 minutes. Memphis has the upper hand, but don’t count out San Antonio’s fight, especially at home. Expect another physical, high-energy battle as these division rivals go head-to-head again.